CHROMOSOME MARKERS AND EVIDENCE FOR CLONE FORMATION IN LYMPHOCYTES OF A PATIENT WITH SEZARY SYNDROME

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 40  (10) , 3426-3429
Abstract
Cytogenetic studies of 222 metaphase lymphocytes stimulated by phytohemagglutinin were carried out on a patient diagnosed clinically as having Sezary syndrome. Twenty-two cells (10%) contained 42-100 chromosomes. The remaining 200 cells contained 46 chromosomes and revealed evidence of clone formation; 45 were apparently normal diploid cells, but 155 were pseudodiploid with at least 1 long submetacentric marker in each cell. This marker had a consistent banding pattern from cell to cell. Of the 25 psuedodiploid cells karyotyped, there were other types of markers present. Normal chromosomes 2 and 17 were missing in all 25 karyotypes. There were 7 sets of 2 cells, each with an identical karyotype, suggesting subclonal formation. Many of the phytohemagglutinin-stimulated nondividing white blood cells had 1 or more nuclear protrusions. Cytogenetic examination of peripheral lymphocytes may be of value in diagnosing and following the course of this disease.